Guys, how are 400 pontiacs from the firebirds for performance. Finally found an Pontiac engine for the GP but was wondering about stock performance. Guy wants 1500 for it - a rebuilt and detailed block, it doesn't have the intake included though. Let me know
I think a 400 from a Firebird will make your Grand Prix get up and beg. Output varies depending on year and how the engine was rebuilt. To me a freshly rebuilt engine for that money seems like a pretty decent price. The lowest price Chevy 350 I saw at Performance World in Toronto last weekend was $1,650. It was 290 HP and available from a well known rebuilder. Casting number is a good idea.
-- Edited by 73SC on Sunday 21st of March 2010 09:10:57 PM
ask him what cam he upgraded to? check the head #, look on the center of the exhaust ports, common is 6X. To find the original application, look to the left of the water pump for a 2 letter code ex YZ , is a 400 4 spd application.
www.classicalpontiac.com under the Restore tab.
later 400's need a cam upgrade to wake them up.
__________________
later...rog
AADD supporting member !!
I'm a collector...not a builder!!Located in sunny central Saskatchewan at the lakehead!
Good Pontiac 400s are 1967-74 and 1978-79 W72 Pontiac 400 out of the Transam, the 1975-79 regular 400s had thinner casting in the main webbing area, if your just going to use it for a daily driver street car they should be fine as long as you don't rev them over 5000 rpm, lots of torque on the Pontiac engines. As for heads go with the 4 barrel big valve heads and you should be fine. The 5C and 6X heads are a good choice for today's pump gas. Years ago I pulled a 400 out of a 1979 GP, it was one of those 1978 W72 TA 400.
A stock 301 from the factory had 145 HP. A rebuilt 400 will have double that unless it is a later 400. The later 400's came with 220 HP from the factory, but have lots of torque. A 1970 Ram Air IV Engine came with 370 HP from the factory and this was known to be under rated.
Just back from looking at block, unable to get #'s as it was inaccessible. Guy told me it was low performance block, done but not bored over, new cam etc
what year is it? WW casting is 69 gto r/a 4. Anything pre 72 should walk and talk if done well. Like Carl said, Keep it under 5000 rpm, or you will bust the cam, and leave a dead hole in the process. Tourqey as hell mind you. Decent engine. Mine was 3000$ to rebuild 7 years ago with all pontiac parts, machining, etc...... Good luck.
Any one that wants to build a pontiac motor should buy Jim Hands book (how to build a high performance pontiac). There is good info on what factory parts to use and it also corrects some of the myths out there. There are two more sources i trust and thats SD Performance in BC and Butler Performance in Tennesee. The purchase price is good but it still comes down to who machined the block how the clearences were set.
I'm with UNBURT X 2, I've got that book and got satisfied friends that got engines and heads rebuilt, ported at SDPerformance Chilliwack BC. I will get them to port a set of 6X heads for me ...
I am going to be parting out a 1969 Grand Prix with less than 60,000 miles. The engine is a 428-370 hp. This engine is a 4 bolt main with factory windage tray, no 62 heads. It will be sold complete from air cleaner to oil pan and will be heard running before it is pulled. It will be a complete combo with the numbers matching everything including turbo 400 transmission. $3500 firm.If interested email me. It will only be available after May 15. The engine pust out 460 ft lbs of torque
I had a 76 FB, that was 185 Net HP and 310 lb ft if I recall correctly. I never found the car to be fast out of the hole but it easily burried the speedo and pointed the needle dead south on many a runs out of Muskoka to Toronto. It burned rubber like a scared pig too. I also had a 80 GP with a 301 W37 package. I liked that car too. To be honest I think the GP felt faster, it was probably lighter and in fact this was one big feature of the 301 being a lightwieght engine, burned rubber like scared pig too. Could bury that speedo on the same runs on old HWY 11 too. Both cars were good cruisers but not racers.
Albert, How come you're not restoring this rare 1969 Grandprix SJ ? This longest hood ever produced GM mobile would be a nice ride. Ray, I used to own a 1975 Firebird Esprit 350 back when I was in Trenton 1990, This car was fast and I love the way it handle, I use to pull up on the 401 at the Belleville exit, give her and in no time I would reach 100 MPH crazy frenchman I was LOL ! Mind you I installed a Edelbrock Performer intake and Holley 600 4 barrel on it, it also had a Turbo 350 and 3:08 posi.
Albert, How come you're not restoring this rare 1969 Grandprix SJ ? This longest hood ever produced GM mobile would be a nice ride. Ray, I used to own a 1975 Firebird Esprit 350 back when I was in Trenton 1990, This car was fast and I love the way it handle, I use to pull up on the 401 at the Belleville exit, give her and in no time I would reach 100 MPH crazy frenchman I was LOL ! Mind you I installed a Edelbrock Performer intake and Holley 600 4 barrel on it, it also had a Turbo 350 and 3:08 posi.
would you remeber this car?
i bought in Trenton in 1994
was a 1979 403 Formula ,i bought it on Water st.
-- Edited by 68sd on Monday 22nd of March 2010 09:33:59 PM
Albert, How come you're not restoring this rare 1969 Grandprix SJ ? This longest hood ever produced GM mobile would be a nice ride. Ray, I used to own a 1975 Firebird Esprit 350 back when I was in Trenton 1990, This car was fast and I love the way it handle, I use to pull up on the 401 at the Belleville exit, give her and in no time I would reach 100 MPH crazy frenchman I was LOL ! Mind you I installed a Edelbrock Performer intake and Holley 600 4 barrel on it, it also had a Turbo 350 and 3:08 posi.
would you remeber this car?
i bought in Trenton in 1994
was a 1979 403 Formula ,i bought it on Water st.
-- Edited by 68sd on Monday 22nd of March 2010 09:33:59 PM
Well Pascal, here is my engine, I should have said not quick, it was fast enough probably do 130 mph like you said but the old man's Electra with a 403 could easily take it off the line.
No, Sorry Fred I don't recall seing this car, maybe because I was more into mid 60's Pontiac GTOs back then, I got transfered in 1992. Ray, Nice clean 400 engine, my Firebird was rusted out I had to brace the rear frame with 1/4 " steel plates and popped rivets all four floors with sheet metal LOL , I bought it for 250$ off my boss to drive for a fun winter beater, I used to go on the ice on the Quinte bay with it ... she was slipping all winter with the rear slicks I had on it, I manage to hit the ditch once on HWY 2, manage to get out with only a couple dents but threw out the front suspension, I gave it away the next spring to a guy who raced in Brighton, I kept the Pontiac 350 and he put a Chevy 350 in her.
-- Edited by pontorquer on Monday 22nd of March 2010 09:56:55 PM
-- Edited by pontorquer on Monday 22nd of March 2010 09:59:16 PM
